Dili, Timor-Leste – โ Demonstrations continued in Timor-leste on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, despite Parliament’s Tuesday vote to cancel a controversial plan to purchase SUVs for its members. Protests, initially sparked by a US $4.2 million โ(Rp.โฃ 70 billion) โbudget allocation approved โlastโ year forโ Toyota Prado SUVs – one for each of โคthe 65 parliamentarians – have โฃpersisted for three days, drawing thousands to the capital โcity of Dili.
The unrest โstems โfrom widespread public โanger over the proposed expenditure in aโฃ nation where over 40% of โthe population lives in poverty.While Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution to halt the procurement process andโ focus on maintaining existing vehicles,protesters remain โskeptical. “There are โคrumorsโข that the cars are on their way,” โsaid Trinitoโ Gaio, 42, a demonstrator, to AFP. “That is why allโข students and I myself are โhere today, to ensure that my tax money does not lead to the wrong direction.”
Clashes between protesters and โpolice have occurred over the past two days, with demonstrators throwing stones and police responding with tear gas. President Joseโข Ramos-Hortaโ warned on Tuesdayโข that “there will โbe no tolerance” for violence during the demonstrations. โThe protests coincide with Prime Minister xanana Gusmao’s trip to London for โฃa meetingโ regarding land and maritime borders, with his scheduled return on September 22.
Timor-Leste, which achieved โindependence from Indonesia in 2002, continues to grapple with significant challenges including inequality,โข malnutrition,โฃ and unemployment, with its economyโฃ heavily reliant on oil reserves.The currentโข unrestโ echoes similar protests in Indonesia last month,triggered by public outrage over perceived lavish spending by parliamentary members alongside issues of low wages and unemployment.
